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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405317
Research Project: Developing Decision Support Tools to Incorporate Hemp into Existing Farming Enterprises

Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit

Title: First report of Spiroplasma citri associated with disease symptoms in field-grown hemp (Cannabis sativa) in the Pacific Northwest

Author
item Rivedal, Hannah
item Temple, Todd
item THOMAS, WILLIAM - Oregon State University
item OCAMB, CYNTHIA - Oregon State University
item FUNKE, CASSANDRA - Oregon State University
item SKILLMAN, VICTORIA - Oregon State University
item JONES, GORDON - Oregon State University
item SHRESTHA, GOVINDA - Oregon State University
item KC, ACHALA - Oregon State University
item DUNG, JEREMIAH - Oregon State University
item FROST, KENNETH - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2023
Publication Date: 1/2/2024
Citation: Rivedal, H.M., Temple, T.N., Thomas, W.J., Ocamb, C.M., Funke, C., Skillman, V.P., Jones, G., Shrestha, G., Kc, A., Dung, J.K., Frost, K.E. 2024. First report of Spiroplasma citri associated with disease symptoms in field-grown hemp (Cannabis sativa) in the Pacific Northwest. Plant Disease. 108(1):202. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-23-1419-PDN.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-23-1419-PDN

Interpretive Summary: This report details the first detection of Spiroplasma citri associated with disease in Oregon and the United States on hemp. This report describes the prevalence of the pathogen throughout the state and describes molecular and culture-based methods of pathogen detection. The confirmation of S. citri in hemp may have management implications for hemp growers of Oregon and the nation.

Technical Abstract: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a new crop for the United States. The diseases associated with production losses in this crop are not well understood. In 2021 and 2022, a disease survey throughout Oregon identified hemp plants with symptoms of leaf puckering, discoloration, and fasciation. Known pathogens like curtoviruses and phytoplasmas were not detected in these plant samples. However, Spiroplasma citri was detected with molecular and culture assays. The confirmation of this pathogen associated with hemp disease in Oregon and the United States indicates the need for further pathogen evaluations and considerations about management of the insect vector, the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus Baker).